Letters to the Editor - March 26, 2013

Tuesday

Mar 26, 2013 at 3:15 AM

To the editor: Paul Ryan’s newest budget, let’s call it Ryan 3.0, is not the improved version implied. After all the first version, (2011), was widely panned and the second version, (2012), was even rejected by Romney not to mention the 2012 electorate. One would expect some new thinking to be applied to this version. Unfortunately, the few new ideas were more extreme than the past attempts.

What is in the mind of an individual that rationalizes cutting food stamps, shifting the cost of Medicaid and Medicare to the retired and lowest earners, slashing Head Start and other “Safety Net” programs to fund an additional 20% tax break for the very rich and reduce the corporate tax rate. In to the human cost, these changes would reduce government revenues by $7 trillion.

Today’s corporate tax rate is at the lowest point in 40 years, 35%. Historically, total corporate taxes have been 6% of GDP but due to the accumulation of tax loopholes and the use of offshore tax havens that has dropped to 2%. The argument is that cutting corporate taxes is good for business and will probably help create jobs. This may be true but how much better do the big corporations need it to be treated — their current average tax rate is 12.1%?

Rep. Ryan is a political oxymoron: a “deficit hawk” who voted for tax cuts during wartime and unfunded Medicare drug coverage; a “budget genius” whose third attempt still doesn’t add-up when anyone puts a pencil to it; a supposedly compassionate Catholic and a man of the people that the “nuns on the bus” and the American Catholic Bishops and much of his constituency don’t recognize; a leader in the Republican House political brain trust who hurt his ticket and has put together a budget that has no chance of helping to bridge the gap between House Republicans and the rest of the world.

I’m still looking for the genius, generosity and genuine parts of the genus “Republican House members”.

We can never expect Ryan to play the role of his brother’s keeper but does he always have to play the role of the grim reaper?

Dave Potter

North Hampton

To the editor: I would like to thank the voters of Farmington for placing their trust in me by electing me to the Board of Selectmen.

I would also thank Joan Funk for her many years of community service and active participation in school and town affairs.

It is my privilege and pleasure to serve. I will do my best to ensure that the administrative needs of the town are met; that we communicate better by sharing more news and resources online; that our public safety needs are prioritized; that we promote economic development; that we attend to our infrastructure needs; and that taxes remain low through wise and prudent spending.

Farmington faces economic challenges, yet remains a great place to live and work. Let’s keep it that way through active community participation in town meetings, on town committees and boards, with youth and school groups and local charitable organizations. A town such as Farmington is only as vibrant as its residents make it.

Thank you again for this opportunity to serve you.

Matthew Scruton

Farmington

To the editor: While riding my motorized bicycle in Dover the other day I saw a small, square bumper sticker on the vehicle in front of me that said: “MAINE TERRORIST HUNTING PERMIT. No bag limit. Tagging not required.” I wasn’t surprised, but as someone who values the nonviolent teachings of Jesus the Christ, I was saddened, disgusted, and appalled.

A few minutes later I saw another bumper sticker on a different vehicle in Dover that said, “Driver loves you.” I was heartened, delighted, and encouraged.

It then occurred to me that it would be extremely unlikely to see both of those bumper stickers on the same vehicle. That’s because they contradict each other.

If America continues to value and uphold as proper the killing of its enemies, then American will continue to fail spiritually. That does not mean I condone terrorism.

What that means is we cannot both love and kill our enemies. We’ve always had the choice, the choice is valid, and nothing but our fear can stop us from growing strong.

True strength, after all, is not measured militarily. While it certainly takes courage to fight in a military battle, it takes a deeper, abiding courage to be a nonviolent nonconformist.

It’s also true you don’t have to be a Christian in order to love your enemy. But if you are a Christian and you don’t love your enemy, then you’re not following Christ, you’re following you.

Alex J. Boros

Rochester

To the editor: The White House’s Budget Office (OMB) reported its National Drug Intelligence Center would suffer $2 million loss of its $20 million budget.

The problem is much worse: The NDIC was closed in June 2012. It no longer exists. We are being played for fools. This is a great example of waste. There are billions of dollars of waste out there, for people to find.

David K. Martin

Dover

To the editor: On April 21 the 32nd annual “Red’s Race for a Better Community “will take off in Dover. One of the nonprofit agencies that will benefit from this event is Community Partners who provides services to persons with developmental disabilities

My daughter Samantha is one of the many people in Strafford County who receives services from Community Partners and again this year she will be taking part in the Red’s Race to help raise much needed funds for them. I call her efforts a return on their investment.

If you could see your way clear to sponsor her it would be wonderful. Please contact me at phixr@comcast.net.

On behalf of Samantha and others who will benefit from your generosity I sincerely thank you.

Pete Eldredge

Somersworth

To the editor: Recently on Capitol Hill, Congress held two hearings about the future of health care in America. From the perspective of America’s retirees, it’s bad and about to get worse.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) says health insurers can currently charge older Americans up to three times the rate of identical health care protection, so our affordability fears are going to grow. To inflame things even more, Congress has introduced the LIBERTY Act (H.R. 544), to allow insurers to potentially charge us five times more than the average adult for the same health care coverage.

This week is the anniversary of American patriot Patrick Henry’s great speech at the site of St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia (March 23, 1775), let me echo his call to arms to inspire fellow retirees to do the same. In Henry’s words:

“I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. If we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Fellow retirees, let this great call to action from 1775 inspire and lead us in the year 2013. Join me and the nonprofit ProtectSeniors. Org (www.ProtectSeniors.Org / 1-800-398-3044) in coming to the economic defense of retirees across our great nation.

Betty Stanley

Rochester

To the editor: We need to heed the news coming out of Cyprus these days. Having made bad bank decisions and having overspent due to their left wing government, the economy of Cyprus is nearing collapse. A bailout has been arranged with the European Union but it has a “catch”. Individual bank accounts below 100,000 euros will be taxed 6.75% and those above that amount will be taxed 9.9%.

That’s right folks, confiscation of private wealth by a government teetering on the abyss. Checking accounts, saving accounts, doesn’t matter. Those folks savings are being taken. Bear in mind the President of Cyprus was asked three weeks ago if this was on the horizon and he categorically denied it. Huge run on banks there, government has now shut down the banks until at least Thursday.

Can’t happen hear? Don’t be on it. With the trillions of dollars out there in 401k, IRA and private pension accounts, as our debt spirals upward, it makes a tempting target for the ruling class in Washington. Remember that this sequester that has everyone up in arms did not reduce government spending, only the rate of increase in spending. We will still spend more money this year than last! So with our unfunded mandates of Social Security and Medicare, we are dealing in outlying years with a debt that balloons to $70 trillion.

“We has met the enemy and they is us” as Pogo famously said as he poled his boat in the swamp.

I always thought the swamp was the Okefenokee, but I guess it was Washington, D.C.

John Linville

Dover

To the editor: I am a longtime Barrington resident (1999), a user of the school system (1st grade and 3rd grade) and incredibly concerned about our school system, our town as a whole and using what little money we have, wisely.

There is clearly a heated debate about full day kindergarten happening. I welcome that debate; I am that debate.

I had spent 4 years being vehemently against full- day kindergarten. Kids deserve to be kids. Introducing children slowly into a school system gives them time to adjust to academic life. Any education lost could be made up in later years. I gave myself many rationalizations. Then I volunteered in the 1st grade classroom of my youngest child.

Many of the children I observed had immense trouble using scissors (an important fine motor skill), they needed incredible concentration just copying their ABC’s, and simple math had them discouraged and giving up. Our kids, in our small town, from all different walks of life, come from a range of experiences. The skills learned in kindergarten are skills we use for the rest of our lives. One could argue that “everyone catches up” (which would have been my argument before entering this classroom). I am not sure I agree anymore, but I am sure even if it is possible, it will come at (too high) a price. Already so many of these kids are figuring out that they are “behind” — their self esteem suffers and for many kids it can be a quick decision to “give up” before they have even gotten started. In kindergarten there is only “just enough time” to introduce a subject. There is no time for practice, for confidence building, for encouragement and patience. It matters. It matters a lot. Anyone that has raised a child or is raising a child that has struggled with anything can tell you that. The future of Barrington, our children, deserves this very small investment.

The school board’s job is to do what is best for the education of our students, in a fiscally responsible way. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that they have done this. They researched the merits of full time kindergarten, they made cuts in the budget that were painful and sad, they had many frank discussions with the public (I am sorry that so many Barrington residents that do not have children that are directly affected by FT kindergarten did not attend). This group works very hard to do the right things, even when it is hard. They work tirelessly to make the right decisions, even when they are not the most popular. Please do not judge until you go to a few meetings. The audience is usually empty. It is easy to judge when you are not there.

I am sure that I will be considered biased, as my husband is a school board member. We do not always agree on school related things; as a result, I have been on the “other side” of arguments with him, and the school board as a whole. They have always been willing to listen, forthcoming with their reasoning, and always fiscally conscientious.